The famous pitcher Satchel Paige once said, "Don't look back, something might be gaining on you."
On Wednesday night at English Field, the Virginia Tech baseball team took an early lead and did not look back. And its opponent - the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams (8-19) - could not catch up. The Hokies (13-20) won their fifth straight non-conference game by beating VCU, 9-1.
Four Tech pitchers combined to give up just eight hits, striking out seven and not allowing a walk.
"We didn't give the offense any free base runners," Tech head coach Pete Hughes said. "Walks score runs. It was a good lesson for our guys tonight. If you throw strikes, you'll have success."
Tech began the game with freshman Justin Wright on the mound, making his first start of the season. Wright - who is normally used as a reliever - came into Wednesday's contest with 16 appearances and a 3.00 earned run average.
He got some early support in the bottom of the first from his offense and the Rams defense.
After VCU starting pitcher Michael Graham got the first two outs of the inning, catcher Anthony Sosnoskie drew a walk. Then, right fielder Klint Reed doubled to score Sosnoskie. Reed advanced one base after a fielding error by VCU catcher Eric Curtis.
Another hit - this time an RBI single by second baseman Austin Wates - and another error by the Rams put the Hokies in scoring position again. Designated hitter Jose Cueto took advantage, singling to right center to score Wates and put Tech up 3-0.
Graham only lasted one inning, giving way to Darryl Stringfield in the bottom of the second.
The right hander surrendered a single run in that inning, as Sean Ryan hit one between the shortstop and third baseman and into left field. Left fielder Steve Bumbry raced home from second to push the Tech lead to four.
Neither starting pitcher lasted long. After Wright retired the first seven batters, he gave up a double, and then gave way to fellow freshman Jesse Hahn.
Hughes did have a strategy behind using four pitchers.
"We need to get those guys work because they're young," Hughes said. "They need to get on the mound in game situations. We need to be careful with their pitch counts so we don't hurt those guys and so they can be effective for us this weekend. Everyone was on a tight leash with the pitch counts."
VCU head coach Paul Keyes saw his Rams get their lone run in the top half of the fifth.
Left fielder Michael Cheatham led off with a hit to center. After a groundout moved him to second and an infield single put runners on the corners, Curtis flew out to short right field.
The second out of the inning wasn't deep enough for Cheatham to tag up and try to score. But shortstop Joe Van Meter bailed them out with an RBI single to center field.
VCU had an opportunity for more runs. Another infield single - this time by lead-off hitter Matt Leskiw - loaded the bases. Second baseman Richard Gonzalez laced a line drive, but it went straight to third baseman Michael Seaborn and ended the threat.
Tech extended its lead in the fifth. With O'Brien perched on second, Sosnoskie lifted a fly ball that carried over the 330' sign in left field.
"It was a hanging slider," Sosnoskie said. "I thought it was gone, but I didn't think it was out real far. I got a little under it."
His fourth home run of the season gave the Hokies a 6-1 cushion.
In the next inning, with one out and two Tech runners on base, shortstop Tony Balisteri - the ninth batter in the lineup - nearly went for a home run off new Rams pitcher Will Hirsch. Nevertheless, the ball hit the wall and the freshman ended up on second with a run-scoring double.
Balisteri finished the night going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
The Hokies added some insurance in the eight with two runs and a pair of VCU errors.
Reliever Rob Waskiewicz came in to finish the deal in the ninth, preserving the Tech victory.
Hahn was credited with the win after going 2.2 innings and giving up the lone Rams run. McDermott and Waskiewicz combined to pitch four innings, allowing three hits total.
"We've struggled getting ahead in the count," Sosnoskie said. "If you can get ahead in the count and work the strike zone on any hitter, you'll get them out."
Graham got the loss for the Rams and remains winless on the year. The VCU offense struggled, as only one player - Cheatham - managed to have a multi-hit game.
After a long homestand, the Hokies now go on the road for four straight games. The first of which is on Friday against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at 3 p.m.